WILLY CHIRINO

Willy Chirino
Wilfredo José Chirino

Born on April 5, 1947 in Consolación del Sur, Pinar del Río, Cuba

Singer, composer and music producer.

Willy Chirino is a singer who was born in Cuba in the small town Consolación del Sur, in the Cuban province of Pinar del Río. His father was the town’s State Attorney and his mother was a pharmacist who worked at home. He was the only boy in his family (he had three sisters). His town did not have any crime and was very peaceful; the worst thing that happened was someone trying to steal medicine from their house. He lived a calm life in this town for fourteen years.

After the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, many Cubans were fled to the United States. Many thought it was something temporary and hoped to return soon afterwards, but when it became apparent that the Revolution was going to continue, more Cubans left the island. In 1960 Chirino went to the United States through “Operation Peter Pan”, designed to get Cuban children out of the country due to, among other things, highly accurate (and later, founded) fears that the government would take them from their parents. This US government sponsored program, in conjunction with the Catholic Welfare Bureau, eventually transported approximately 14,000 Cuban children to the United States and placed them in foster homes until their parents could leave the island. Much later, Willy would record “(Nuestro Día) Ya Viene Llegando”, a song loosely based on his experiences as a refugee which has become an anthem for Cuban exiles everywhere.

Willy began his artistic career in Miami, releasing his first album in 1974. Since then, he has recorded over 20 albums, several of which have attained platinum and gold status. In 2006, his album “Son del Alma”, won a GRAMMY for Best Salsa/Merengue Album.
The composer of more than 100 songs, Chirino’s material has been covered by a lengthy list of artists including Raphael, Ricardo Montaner, Rocio Jurado, Celia Cruz, Oscar D’Leon, Angela Carrasco, Jorge Muniz, and Nydia Caro. Chirino’s song “Soy” has been recorded by more than 60 artists, including the Gipsy Kings, whose interpretation sold more than four million copies. Chirino also composed and performed the theme songs for Spanish-language television soap operas La Zulianita and Pobre Diabla. Chirino has received numerous awards throughout his career. He was named King of Miami’s Calle Ocho Festival in 1993. Two years later, a section of NW 17th Avenue in Miami was christened Willy Chirino Way.
As founder of the Willy Chirino Foundation, his philanthropic efforts have been recognized by UNICEF and the Department of State. Willy celebrates his 35th Anniversary in music with his latest released album “Willy Chirino Live-35th Anniversary” (“Willy Chirino En Vivo-35 Aniversario”), a CD/DVD combo of his 35th Anniversary Concert. This album brought him his first nomination at the 2007 Latin Grammy Awards for best Salsa Album. Most recently, Willy and singer/song writer, and wife Lissette Álvarez, released their first ever duets album Amarraditos (Bound to One Another). The CD includes a potpourri of classic Spanish language love songs.